For police, how much is too much?

There was once a guy, I am told, who tried to hold up a police station and when quizzed as to why he would attempt such an insane caper, the guy calmly replied: "That's where the money is."

It's a joke, but not in Worcester, where the Police Department has increased its dominance of the city's top-paid employees list.

For the calendar year 2013, 178 Worcester police officers and commanders were among the top 250 wage-earners in the city, or as noted by my colleague Thomas Caywood in his story Tuesday, 73 percent, or $25 million of $34.4 million paid to the top wage earners went to police personnel.

In addition to their regular salaries, 30 police officers made more than $50,000 in detail wages, while 31 made more than $25,000 in overtime salary. Of the top 100 wage earners, 86 were police officers and commanders, with $140,000-plus being the lowest gross salary of the group.

It is perhaps none of our business how much a police officer makes, although it would be interesting to know how many of these big-time earners live in the city. Still, I would argue that there is a legitimate public interest in the work schedule of our police officers.

In a project funded by U.S. Department of Justice several years ago, a group of researchers studied the "prevalence and possible consequences of excess work-hour related fatigue" in four major police agencies in different regions of the country.

Among their findings, the researchers, in a report called "Evaluating the Effects of Fatigue on Police Patrol Officers," said fatigue from sleep loss contributes to accidents, injuries and misconduct.

"At the same time, it worsens relations with their co-workers, their families, and the communities they serve," the researchers, Bryan J. Vila, Dennis Jay Kenney, Gregory B.Morrison and Melissa Reuland, said.

So, given that Worcester police officers seem to be spending an inordinate amount of time doing details and working overtime (one officer made almost $60,000 in detail work and nearly $45,000 in overtime) how do they find the time and energy to safely and effectively fulfill their regular duties?

Police Chief Gary Gemme said the department has a number of "safeguards in place to ensure the public is receiving quality police service."

Although Worcester police officers, by contract, are allowed to work up to 80 hours per week, they cannot work more than 16 consecutive hours in a 24-hour period, unless there is a compelling emergency, the chief noted.

The department, he said, also has a software program that tracks the number of hours officers work per week, and is monitored by a deputy chief. A supervisor also inspects all officers at the start of their shift to ensure that they are ready and able to perform as expected.

The chief acknowledged, however, that while the "vast majority of the officers in the department maintain a work schedule well below the maximum available" hours they are permitted to work, some "chose to maximize their earning potential and work whenever there are overtime and detail opportunities."

"When officers work a high number of hours, I am concerned about the quality of their life and how it impacts their health and families," the chief said.

"Every officer who chooses to work overtime or details is making sacrifices or concessions. They are trading time off for leisure and family activities for financial gain. One hopes that these decisions do not negatively impact their health and the quality of family life."